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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7-24-90Planning Commission proceedings are taped recorded and on file in the office of the Planning Dept. MINUTES ARCADIA CITY PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, July 24, 1990 The Planning Commission of the City of Arcadia met in regular session on Tuesday, July 24, 1990 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Arcadia City Hall, 240 West Huntington Drive, with Chairman Larry Papay presiding. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CAW PRESENT: Commissioners Amato, Clark, Hedlund, Papay ABSENT: Commissioner Szany MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Amato, seconded by Commissioner Clark to excuse Commissioner Szany from tonight;s meeting. The motion passed by voice vote with none dissenting. MINUTES MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Clark, seconded by Commissioner Amato to approve the Minutes of July 10, 1990 as published. The motion passed by voice vote with none dissenting. OTHERS ATTENDING: Councilman Joseph Ciraulo City Attorney Michael Miller Planning Director William Woolard Associate Planner Corkran Nicholson Associate Planner Wilfred Wong Secretary Silva Vergel The City Attorney announced that the City Charter requires that for any action to be adopted or approved a majority of the entire membership must vote in favor of the particular motion. If the required three votes are not obtained the motion would fail. If the required three votes are not obtained (1) an applicant may request continuance and it would be up to the Commission to decide whether or not they want to grant the continuance; (2) the matter could be heard and then deferred for final decision pending participation by the absent members as long as they review the records of these proceedings which would be made available to them or (3) the matter could simply go forward to the City Council. Arcadia City Planning Commission 7/24/90 Pagel PUBLIC HEARING CUP 90 -010 702 -822 N. First Ave. and 105 -119 Haven Ave. John E. Plount Consideration of a conditional use permit for a 40 -lot residential planned development with modifications. The staff report was presented. In response to questions from the Commission, staff stated that the lot coverage is approximately 47% and explained the density for the R -1 and R -2 zones. The public hearing was opened. John Plount, 464 S. Cataract, San Dimas, said that they are in agreement with all of the conditions in the staff report and commented that there will be an homeowners association and the CC&Rs will be subject to the City Attorney's review and approval. Al DeRenzis, L & D Engineering, 111 N. Melrose, Monrovia, asked for a better explanation of the street width. Staff said that the 37' -0" in width included the curbs. There were no other persons desiring to speak in favor of or in opposition to this item. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Clark, seconded by Commissioner Hedlund to close the public hearing. The motion passed by voice vote with none dissenting. Commissioner Clark felt that the proposal was a significant improvement over the last proposal based on the removal of tandem parking, widening of the streets and the enlargement of lots by 400 sq. ft each. He thought the density was acceptable but was concemed about the setbacks. Commissioner Amato said that there would be too many people with 5 bedrooms for each unit and that there probably would be a car for each person. Commissioner Clark mentioned that the R -2 zone would allow them to build as many as 60 -units in the area and therefore he didn't think that the density (40- units) was high. Staff commented that they would be more concerned with several different developments of multiple - family projects. It is much easier dealing with one developer and there are no limits on the number of bedrooms. Commissioner Hedlund felt that this was a very high quality single - family development and felt that it should be treated as a single - family development and not multiple - family project. He remarked that this project should be viewed as an R -1 zone and not the R -2, since it is a single - family development. He was concemed about the distance between buildings and thought that it is a shame to postage stamp the lots and noted that these are small lots. He said that there would be nice single - family homes fronting on First Avenue and noted that he was concerned with the setback modifications. Staff stated that on detached condominium projects, usually the distance between buildings is less than what is being proposed. Arcadia City Planning Commission 7/24/90 Page 2 Mike Miller, the City Attorney, stated that a PUD is an alternative form of housing and Code allows for some flexibility for this type of a development. This project is not a single - family development legally and the Commission can not treat it as anything other than what is proposed. Bill Woolard, the Planning Director, said that this project can not be judged by the conventional subdivision standards. It is not R -1 or R -2 and it would be unfair to compare it as such. The PUD deals with sites such as this that there are large enough to develop housing altematives. Chairman Papay said that it would be nice to see the R -1 criteria applied throughout the development but commented that that is not possible. He noted that if all the Tots in the development were zoned R -1 he probably would view it differently. He remarked that there is ample parking in the development, since private on street parking is available. He noted that condition 8 on page 8 should be changed to "eighteen feet ". MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Clark, seconded by Chairman Papay to approve CUP 90 -010 subject to the conditions in the staff report with the additional condition that Condition 8 be changed to "eighteen feet ". ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Clark, Papay NOES: Commissioners Amato, Hedlund ABSENT: Commissioner Szany The motioned failed due to a tie vote. Mr. Miller pointed out the Commission options and stated that the Commission can continue the hearing until Commissioner Szany can vote on the matter or can deny it and allow the applicant to appeal the decision to the City Council. The public hearing should be opened to allow the applicant to state which option he would prefer. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Hedlund, seconded by Commissioner Amato to re -open the public hearing. The motion passed by voice vote with none dissenting. Mr. Plount asked for a continuance of the matter to the Commission's next meeting to allow Commissioner Szany to vote on the matter. Mr. Miller said that he had heard that Commissioner Szany may abstain from this item due to conflict of interest and commented that he would have to speak with Commissioner Szany to see if he would actually have a conflict of interest. If he does have a conflict of interest then this would be deemed denied and the applicant may then appeal it to the City Council. If it is determined that Commissioner Szany does not have a conflict of interest then the public hearing would be continued to the Commission's August 14th meeting. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Amato, seconded by Commissioner Hedlund to continue the public hearing to the Commission's August 14th meeting. Arcadia City Planning Commission 7/24/90 Page 3 ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Amato, Clark, Hedlund, Papay NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Szany PUBLIC HEARING MP 90 -007 143 Genoa David Hsu Consideration of a modifications for a 3 -unit residential condominium. The staff report was presented and the public hearing was opened. Alex Chang, 8730 Huntington, San Gabriel, said that he is representing the applicant and they are in agreement with the conditions in the staff report. Molly Gonzales, 142 Fano, said that she is speaking on behalf of both the neighbors on either side of her and said that they are all against the proposal. She commented that she realizes that if they were to combine 2 lots they could have as many as 8 -units but this is a one lot development with 3 -units and there is currently one unit on the property. They would prefer one unit to 3 -units on the lot. She felt that the density would increase and schools may suffer due to an increase in the number of residents. She was concerned with the increased traffic on the alley and felt that it would have an significant impact with each unit having 2 -3 cars. She was opposed to the deletion of the 5' landscape area and remarked that pretty soon they will be surrounded with large developments. In rebuttal, Mr. Chang said that the project will blend in nicely with the neighborhood. There were no other persons desiring to speak in favor of or in opposition to this item. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Clark, seconded by Commissioner Amato to close the public hearing. The motion passed by voice vote with none dissenting. Commissioner Clark was concerned with the 5' vs. the 10' side setback and with the deletion of the landscape area. He said that the Commission should be looking at the cumulative impact over time from such projects as properties are torn and rebuilt on 50' wide Tots. Commissioner Amato agreed and was against the deletion of the landscape area as well as the reduction on the setbacks. Commissioner Hedlund said that the whole block is comprised of small homes and this would be the first development in the immediate area. He felt that a 50' wide lot is too narrow for this type of a development and commented that he did not like seeing a wall in 50' increments with no landscaping. Chairman Papay wondered if the parking requirements are stringent enough for multiple - family zones and thought that maybe by increasing the number of parking spaces should be looked into. Mr. Woolard said that even if the requirements were made more stringent, a 2 -unit development on a 50' wide lot would still need the same modifications due to the narrow width of the lot. However, a 2- unit project would comply with all Codes if one garage was facing the street and the other the alley, but Arcadia City Planning Commission 7/24/90 Page 4 it would not be a desirable project due to the location of the garages which would have to front onto the adjacent public streets. Mr. Chang noted that he would prefer that the item is continued to allow full Commission review. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Clark, seconded by Commissioner Amato to continue the hearing to the Commission's August 14th meeting. ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Amato, Clark, Hedlund, Papay NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Szany AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION None MATTERS FROM COUNCIL None MATTERS FROM COMMISSION Chairman Papay wondered if a change in the required parking space would solve the problem with developments on 50' wide lots. He felt that the area has been saturated with development on 50' wide lots. He remarked that although these are deep lots, even if a single - family home was built proposed, with the garage to the rear of the house, the house would have to be 2 -story due to the narrow width of the lot. A series of 8 -unit developments would create massive structures although they do provide the buffers. Commissioner Amato remarked that with two lots they would be able comply with code. Most of these developments are very large 2 -story units and he felt that there is a tremendous need for smaller units. Commissioner Clark stated that wit 8-units tse on a double aott, the setbacks would not be reduced and there would be no need for the deletion Mr. Woolard noted that if the requirements were to be changed, it would encourage larger units which would mean less affordable housing. Since there is no overnight on street parking in Arcadia, there doesn't seem to be any problems as far as the parking. It is desirable to consolidate Tots and build an 8 -unit project that complies with all Code requirements, but that is not always possible. Staff noted that there is a 2 -unit project on El Dorado, which is 1400 sq. ft. and meets all Code requirements on a 50' wide lot. Approximately 10 years ago, the Council changed the requirements for 50' wide lots to the existing regulations and prior to that developers were building 4 -unit projects on 50' wide lots, each containing 2 -3 bedrooms. The trend has changed to a lesser number of units with larger living space. Staff said that on an 8 -unit project, there is a common walkway around the perimeter of the project with the driveway in the middle. He stated that the Planning Dept. has not received any complaints regarding parking for multiple-family City Planning Commission Arcadia 7/24/90 Page 5 The Commission felt that there should be a study session to discuss possible changes to the Code for the 50' wide lots. Councilman Ciraulo thought that it would be a good idea to have a Council /Commission study session to discuss the matter. MATTERS FROM STAFF Mr. Woolard remarked that even though ideas are welcomed, they can not be imposed since they are not Codes. ADJOURNMENT 9:00 p.m. Secretary, Arcadia Planning Commission Arcadia City Planning Commission 7/24/90 Page 6